Washing machine agitator



R. W. CARTER Sapt. 14, 1937.

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Deo. l5, 1954 Q lNVE NTLJR W 7() CMA/@ Elr Q74# v W- T TUEQNEYE Patented *Sept 14, 1937 UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTOFFICE l 2,092,954 WASHING MACHINE AGITATo-R H aussenW.Cartel-,A1bia,10wa' application December 13, 1934, serial 757,257

3 Claims.

This invention has reference to agitators for washing machines, moreparticularly to an agitator having means for adjusting the effectivearea of the fluid agitating portions whereby the agitator may beadjusted to suit the particular use to which it is to be put.

It is well known that the majority of modern washing machines areequipped with an agitator or dolly of the so-called submerged type,which conventionally comprises a base portion having a centralupstanding stem or conical portion, the same having a. plurality ofvanes disposed thereon in such a manner that when the agitator isalternately rotated in opposite directions in water the vanes cause moreor less Violent agitative movements in the water.

Washing machines of the type using the form of agitator here consideredare thought suiiiciently well known to make description unnecessaryfurther than to say that the present agitator is adapted to be used withany of the conventional types.

In practical use the agitator is disposed adjacent the bottom of the tuband alternately rotated in opposite directions to agitate the liquid inthe tub whereby garments placed in the liquid are agitated therein andwashed.

Obviously, during ordinary washing activity there are times when thegarments being washed consist of comparatively light, small pieces andto agitate and wash these in the most efficient manner a certain type ormagnitude of agitation is required, whereas at other times it may bedesired to wash heavy articles such as work trousers,

rugs, quilts or the like and for this latter purpose another type ormagnitude of agitation is required for best washing results.

Since all agitation produced by a washing mechanism is provided by theVaries on the agitator, it is but logical to assume that the simplestand most effective way to render an agitator capable of most eflicientlywashing articles of different kinds is to provide means for adjustingthe area of the vanes which act upon the liquid and articles.

The object of this invention is to provide means for adjusting the areaof the Vanes for the purpose above noted.

Referring to the accompanying drawing;

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of my agitato-r with portions broken awayand certain associated parts removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same showing dotted outline of interiorparts and a small portion broken away to permit clearer description;

(Cl. 25g-R101) Interior of the stem I5 is a threaded portion II, Fig. 3andv disposed between stem I5 and tubular portion I3 is a sleeve memberI8 having an external threaded portion I9 engaged with threads I1 and anenlarged shoulder portion 20 at its upper end.

The lower end of sleeve I8 rests upon the upper edge of vanes I2 and itis confined in this position by means of a, collar 2| aflixed to theupper end of tubular portion I3.

By means of the shoulder 20, sleeve I8 is mant ually rotated whereuponthreads I9, engaged with threads II, bring about vertical movement ofmember I4 to elevate the vane portions I6 as indicated in .dotted linesin Fig. 3. Such movement obviously extends the effective working area ofthe vanes and by adjusting the position of member I4 the agitativeaction of the mechanism may be modified to suit the conditionsl ofpractical use.

To permit free movement of member I4 upon the vanes I2 without excessivelooseness, I preferably so proportion the portions I6 as to leave aspace 23, Figs. 3 and 4, between the interior walls of portions I6 andthe surfaces of vanes I2. Adjacent the interior lower edge of at leastone. of members I6 the material thereof is fashioned to have inwardlydirected portions '24 having a relatively small area in contact with thesurface of the vane. The relatively small contacting surfaces are easilytted to operate with a minimum of friction which would obviously not bethe; case if the entire surface areas were in contact.

Interiorly of the upper end of stem I3 there is provided an opening 22of any desired form What I claim is:

1. An agitator of the class described having in combination a membercomprising a base portion, a centrally disposed upstanding tubularportion and a plurality of upstanding vanes, a second member having Vaneportions fashioned to telescopically fit over the rst named vanes andhaving a central upstanding tubular portion adapted tosurround the rstmentioned tubular member, the latter having threads formed in itsinterior surface, a sleeve member surrounding the first tubular portionand disposed between the rst and second tubular portions, said sleevehaving a threaded portion engaging the threads of the second tubularportion whereby rotation of said sleeve brings about telescopic movementof the second named vane portions upon the rst named vane portions.

2. In a submerged washing machine agitator,

a base member, vertical vanes on said base, a central drive postattached to said base extending above the water line, a rotatable sleeveover said drive post, a hand grip on the top of said sleeve, a threadedlower section on said sleeve, an adjustable vane member mounted on thethreaded section of the sleeve with vanes telescoping the vanes on thebase member whereby the height of the vanes may be adjusted by the handgrip on the top of the sleeve member.

3. In a submerged washing machine agitator, a submerged base, vanes onsaid base adjustable in height, a drive stem on said base extendingabove the water line, a hand grip mounted near the top of the stem abovethe water line, and means to adjust the height of the vanes by rotationof the hand grip.

RUSSELL W. CARTER.

